Chapter 801: Absent

"The Third Prince has sent word that he has dispatched people to meet us. We should arrive in about half a month," said Old Qi.

"Do you know who Third Brother sent?" Shi Chuankong's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

"I do not know. The Third Prince did not specify," Old Qi shook his head.

"Whoever it is, with Third Brother's men accompanying us, the road ahead will be much easier," Shi Chuankong said, slightly disappointed but then rallying.

Han Li's heart relaxed a little upon hearing this.

"Since Third Brother's men won't arrive for a while, let's wait here and deal with those outside merchant houses in the meantime. Fellow Daoist Li, take this opportunity to rest," Shi Chuankong said.

"Very well," Han Li nodded and stood up.

Old Qi summoned a young maid of sixteen or seventeen to take Han Li to rest.

Knowing they had matters to discuss, Han Li took his leave and departed.

"Young Master, can this Fellow Daoist Li really be trusted?" Old Qi asked as soon as Han Li left.

"Rest assured, Old Qi. Fellow Daoist Li is not from our Sacred Domain; he is a friend I made in the Immortal Domain. We have known each other for many years, and he has saved me several times. There is absolutely no problem," Shi Chuankong waved his hand and said.

"That's good, but he seems to be only at the early Taiyi stage, too weak. I should arrange a few more guards for you, just to be safe," Old Qi's expression relaxed at first, then furrowed.

"Speaking of that, you need not worry. Although we have many experts under our command, none can compare to him in terms of strength. With Fellow Daoist Li and the men Third Brother sends to protect me, it's enough. Too many people would be counterproductive," Shi Chuankong smiled again.

Old Qi frowned, as if wanting to speak but stopping.

"Alright, I have my own thoughts on this. Tell me about the situation with those merchant houses," Shi Chuankong interrupted him and asked.

"Yes," Old Qi nodded helplessly and began to report.

Han Li followed the maid to a courtyard at the back of the mansion. The place was not large, nor was it lavishly decorated, but it gave a sense of tranquility.

"Senior, this is your residence. If you need anything, please feel free to吩咐. I will be outside the courtyard," the maid said obediently.

Han Li looked around the courtyard, quite satisfied.

"What is your name?" He suddenly turned to look at the maid, a faint, hazy light flickering in his eyes.

"My name is Lian'er," the maid said, her gaze fixed on Han Li's eyes as if drawn in, her voice somewhat dazed.

"What kind of person is your Thirteenth Prince?" Han Li continued.

"The Thirteenth Prince does not like power struggles; he is only interested in business. He left Yeyang City long ago. He is also kind to us servants, without any princely airs. The people in Renshan City all love him..." the maid said vaguely, her words somewhat jumbled.

Han Li asked a few more questions, then dispelled the hazy light from his eyes. The maid's expression immediately returned to normal.

"Alright, you may go," Han Li waved her off.

"Yes," the maid nodded and left the small courtyard with a normal expression.

Han Li stood still, watching the maid leave, a thoughtful look on his face.

The information he had gleaned from the maid was basically consistent with what Shi Chuankong usually showed. It seemed he had been overly suspicious.

He shook his head, put aside these thoughts, and spread his divine sense to carefully inspect every part of the courtyard. Then he made hand seals and waved his hand.

Strands of green light fell on various parts of the courtyard—they were array flags. Soon, a green light screen spread out, enveloping the courtyard.

After doing this, he turned and walked into the bedroom, sitting down cross-legged.

After a moment, five-colored light emanated from Han Li's body. Using the *Sumeru Perception Scripture* as the general outline, he cultivated the *Great Five Elements Illusion World Art*.

At the same time, the power of his divine sense in his mind began to circulate again, continuing to cultivate the fifth layer of the Soul Refining Art.

Having experienced several attacks before, Han Li increasingly felt the dangers ahead. He did not want to waste a single second, doing his utmost to improve his strength.

Time passed bit by bit, and in the blink of an eye, about half a month had gone by.

Han Li suddenly opened his eyes, a trace of joy flashing in them.

Perhaps it was the pressure of unknown dangers in a foreign land that stimulated his potential. The half-month of intense cultivation and comprehension had yielded considerable gains.

Especially since the last time he broke through a bottleneck in the Cleansing Abyss Pool, his cultivation of the Soul Refining Art had been exceptionally smooth. During this time, he had felt a sense of rapid progress.

"It should be about time."

After muttering to himself, Han Li made hand seals and withdrew the restrictions in the courtyard, then stood up and walked out.

The maid was waiting quietly outside the courtyard. Seeing Han Li come out, she quickly bowed and said, "Senior, the Thirteenth Prince requests your presence."

"Lead the way," Han Li nodded slightly.

The maid acknowledged and led Han Li forward, soon arriving at the previous hall.

Shi Chuankong and Old Qi were both there. Besides the two, there were three other people.

These three were two men and one woman, all Taiyi stage cultivators.

The one in the center was a black-faced old man in a green demonic armor. His eyes darted around from time to time, giving an impression of cunning.

On his left side was a fat middle-aged man, tall and huge, a full head taller than an average person, covered in layers of fat, looking like a mountain of flesh.

The woman appeared to be around thirty, with some charm, but she wore a bright red long dress and a gaudy red flower on her head, looking somewhat incongruous.

"Fellow Daoist Li, you're here. Please, have a seat," Shi Chuankong said with a smile, standing up to greet him.

Han Li returned the greeting with a nod and found a seat.

"Let me introduce you. These three are Fellow Daoists Mo, Lu, and Hua. They are guest elders of this city and my trusted confidants," Shi Chuankong introduced.

"I am Li Feiyu. Greetings to you three," Han Li cupped his hands.

The three returned the greeting, all quite polite.

Han Li glanced at Shi Chuankong, wanting to ask about the people the Third Prince had sent, but hesitated with these three present.

"These几位 are all trusted friends. Fellow Daoist Li need not be reserved. Third Brother is always very punctual. He said the people he sent would arrive in half a month, which should be today. Let's wait here," Shi Chuankong, seeing Han Li's thoughts, said.

Han Li nodded upon hearing this.

"All of you are my mentors and friends. I invited you here to introduce you to each other. In the future, I will rely on your strength. I just obtained some top-grade sacred wine. Let's drink while we wait," Shi Chuankong laughed heartily, taking out a purple-red wine jar.

Even though it was unopened, a strange aroma of wine had already leaked out.

"Your Highness is too kind. It is our honor to serve you," the black-faced old man said with a faint smile.

"Exactly! Your Highness treats the virtuous with courtesy and provides plenty of fine wine and food. Just give the order, and I, Lu Tong, will have no objections!" the mountain of flesh patted his chest, producing a rumbling sound, and spoke in a booming voice.

"Hehe, the Thirteenth Prince is being too formal," the red-dressed woman giggled and said.

"Thank you, three fellow Daoists," Shi Chuankong was in a good mood. He took out several cups and personally filled them for everyone.

"Fellow Daoist Li, I know you have a good appreciation for wine, but the materials for this jar are special, and the taste is unique. It should be palatable," Shi Chuankong said to Han Li.

"You're too kind, Fellow Daoist Shi," Han Li picked up the cup, took a sip, and his eyes lit up.

The taste of this wine was indeed very unique, quite different from the immortal wine he had drunk before.

The taste was secondary; the wine also contained an extremely pure demonic energy that had a nourishing effect on his Nine Nether Demon Eyes.

"Indeed, it's excellent wine. What is this wine called?" Han Li asked.

"This wine is called Mulberry Wine. I knew Fellow Daoist Li would be interested. Here is the recipe," Shi Chuankong took out a jade slip and handed it over.

Han Li thanked him, took the jade slip, and probed it with his divine sense.

The recipe used quite a few ingredients, twenty or thirty kinds. He was still unfamiliar with various materials in the Demon Domain, but intuitively judged that the demonic energy in the wine came from a material called red mulberry fruit.

"This recipe is indeed extraordinary. Where is the red mulberry fruit produced?" Han Li asked.

"Red mulberry fruit comes from the far north of the Sacred Domain. What, Fellow Daoist Li wants to brew this Mulberry Wine?" Shi Chuankong blinked.

"I have that idea. Could I trouble Fellow Daoist Shi to use the power of Guangyuan Hall to collect the ingredients for this wine, especially the red mulberry fruit? As for the price, don't worry too much," Han Li nodded and said.

"Of course, no problem. But the red mulberry fruit is a very rare material, so it may take some time," Shi Chuankong agreed readily.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Fellow Daoist Shi," Han Li was only interested in research and was not in a hurry.

"Fellow Daoist Li also likes fine wine? Haha, then we can get closer. Old Lu has no other hobbies, just loves eating and drinking! Come, let's have a toast!" the mountain of flesh said heartily, patting Han Li's shoulder with a palm as big as a fan.

Han Li smiled faintly, did not dodge, and raised his cup.

Although they had just met, he had roughly figured out the mountain of flesh's temperament—he was straightforward and not very scheming. If it had been the black-faced old man reaching out, he would not have let him touch his body.

Only now did Shi Chuankong truly relax the nerves that had been tense throughout the journey. Intending to let them get to know each other, he kept finding topics.

They toasted back and forth, and the atmosphere soon became harmonious. After drinking to their hearts' content, they began to exchange some cultivation insights.

Everyone present had reached the Taiyi stage, except Shi Chuankong, who was slightly inferior but had already passed the decline of decay and had one foot in the Taiyi stage.

After a round of exchange, everyone felt they had gained a lot.

Time passed quickly in drinking and conversation. In the blink of an eye, most of the day had passed, but the people sent by the Third Prince still had not appeared.